Much Ado about the campus theme

IU South Bend will celebrate one of the most famous playwrights of all time with this year’s campus theme: “Much Ado about Will: 450 Years of Shakespeare and Counting”
The campus theme began in the 2003-04 school year as a general education initiative. Each year, one or two faculty oversees events related to the theme. Campus theme coordinators Julie Elliot, associate librarian and coordinator of public relations and outreach, and Randy Colborn, associate professor of theatre, worked together to fill the 2013-2014 school year with Shakespearian events and performances.
The theatre season at IUSB will consist of productions written or inspired by the famous English playwright: “King Lear,” “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged,” a children’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and a musical “Kiss Me Kate,” which is based off of “The Taming of The Shrew.”
Tristan Conner, a junior with a major in theatre, explained the theme’s significance.
“The campus theme shows how Shakespeare is still an influence in today’s world,” Conner said. “Many movies today are based off Shakespeare’s plays. Take ‘Thor’ for example. ‘Thor’ is based off a side plot in ‘King Lear,’” Conner explained.
The plot of “King Lear” features an angry, illegitimate younger son, not unlike the jealously of Loki in “Thor.”
“Much Ado about Will” will celebrate the works of Shakespeare beyond the theatre department. Elliot explained that there are many other activities planned throughout the year.
One of the biggest events will be on April 23, “the supposed birthday of Shakespeare,” Elliot said.
“At 2 p.m. on the campus mall, we’ll be reciting Sonnet 18. We asked Chancellor Allison which sonnet was his favorite, and he picked this,” Elliot said.
Another event planned around the campus theme is a traveling exhibit coming to the library in April.
“We’ll be featuring a national exhibit from the Library of Medicine,” Elliot said. Called “And There’s the Humor of It,” the exhibit will feature the medical references in Shakespeare’s plays.
Other planned events include a recitation of sonnets at Chancellor Allison’s official installation in October and the opportunity to write and record Shakespeare-themed radio plays, A of list of official events can be seen in the table below.
To find out more about the campus theme or Shakespeare, check out the official Facebook page at facebook.com/onesonnetonecampus.